Scott Hamilton scored three tries today as defending champions Canterbury kicked off the 2005 national first division rugby championship from where they left off last season.
They beat Southland 42-16, with six of their All Blacks, scoring five tries to start the new season with a bonus-point victory at Invercargill's Rugby Park.
However, it wasn't until the last three minutes of the game that they ran away with the score when powerful No 8 Mose Tuali'i ploughed through for their third try and then winger Hamilton crossed twice in quick succession.
Until then Southland were behind just 16-23 and threatening to upset last year's champions with sporadic but some powerful driving play.
All of Canterbury's tries came in the second half after the home side led 10-9.
Even the early second-half signs looked good for the hosts as they had scored points on either of the break -- a try by halfback Jimmy Cown in the 38th minute. converted by first five-eighth Matt Petre and a penalty goal by Petre four minutes from the restart.
For Canterbury Blair Blair had kicked three first-half penalties.
Canterbury tightened up their game and worked hard to ensure they maintained possession in the tackles and rucks.
Tuiali'i featured with ball in hand. After a wave of attacks close to the Southland line, halfback Jamie Nutbrown darted through untouched for their opening try eight minutes after halftime.
Blair converted and seven minutes later the strong Southland defence crumbled again in the face of some hard pick-and-drive game.
Blair converted and Canterbury looked on the way to a significant victory.
However, captain Clarke Dermody, No 8 Paul Miller and flanker Daniel Quate led a comeback by Southland and had the Cantabrians on the backfoot for the best part of 15 minutes.
However, that effort appeared to take the wind out of their sail. Petre kicked his third penalty before Canterbury's more experienced side suffocated them across the park with solid defence, denied them possession and moved the ball swiftly on attack.
Winger Caleb Ralph, centre Casey Laulala and Hamilton handled to allow Tuiali'i over for his try.
Fullback Blair, who scored 17 points with his boots, cut the Southland defence in the middle with a sizzling run and Canterbury moved the ball away quickly from the Southland forwards to allow Hamilton to score his second try.
Front the kickoff, Canterbury moved the ball wide again and Hamilton raced in for his third try.
" We just ran out steam, fell away from a few tackles and the pressure was on us," Dermody said.
Canterbury captain Reuben Thorne said his own team's errors contributed to their average first half.
"We talked about it at halftime, we knuckled down a bit, worked hard and the reward came and I'm happy with the result," he said.
Canterbury 42 (Scott Hamilton 3, Jamie Nutbrown, Mose Tuiali'i tries; Ben Blair 3 pen, 4 con)
Southland 16 (Jimmy Cowan try; Matt Petre 3 pen, con).
Halftme: 9-10.
- NZPA
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